Investigators were tipped off to problems at home after a school nurse noticed their child had a roach in his ear last September. In another incident, school officials noticed more roaches crawling in the child's backpack.

According to the Citrus County Sheriff Department, the child reeked of cat urine, wore the same pull-ups to school on multiple occasions and was denied needed medication. The child's teachers routinely gave him food and helped clean him.

People who live in the neighborhood said there were signs that something was wrong because he was never allowed outside the house to play with other children.

"We would open the door and you would see him in the window pounding... literally pounding (on the window)," said neighbor Angelica Perez.

Christina and Robert were taken to the Citrus County jail and held on $5,000 bond, while the child was placed in alternative care.